Safer minibus

Working in collaboration with

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, engineers at

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have developed what could be the safest minibus in the

.

Known as Iovan, after the Celtic god for the Protection of Youth, the new-look minibus will include more than 30 safety improvements designed to ensure safer home-to-school transport and is expected to transform the way vehicles used for transporting children are designed and manufactured in the future.

Among the safety features are windows fitted with safety film, which prevents glass splintering on impact, a lower entry step for safe boarding and an optional rear-mounted passenger lift for wheelchair access.

The Irisbus Iveco 50C15 is constructed to meet ECE - R66 Rollover Protection safety standards and is therefore eligible for the BUSK (Belt Up School Kids) endorsement. This will make Iovan the only minibus with this approval at present.

The enhanced safety features have been introduced as the result of the first phase of a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between the university’s Institute for Innovation and School of Engineering and the Brecon-based company.

The second phase of the project is focusing on detailed numerical modelling of the overall structure to further strengthen the design and carry out computer simulation of roll-over tests.